Does anyone know why the LOD always travels in a counterclockwise direction? Where did this originate? Why isn't it clockwise?

Probably because all the original waltz steps turned right, and it is a lot easier to go around a room in a counter clockwise direction with right turning steps. Same reason right turns are called natural turns.

In the days when gentlemen carried swords, most right-handed persons wore the scabbard on their left. Those were dangerous times, and a gentleman had to be ready at any time to draw his sword, even while dancing. Going counterclockwise, with scabbards on the inside of the LOD, seemed safer for the spectators, who were presumably on the outside of the LOD.

Stupid question- does it have anything to do with the rotation of the earth?

No question is stupid. But I agree with Annie's musing. Waltz, the first ballroom dance, was started by the Aussies.

True-- add to this. - watch any of the old westerns ( Formal dances ) V.W. was always danced --Natural turns( to the right ) counter clockwise -- hence the name " Natural " turn .

Hi to All,
I noticed on the TV that the runners in the majority of races at an athletic meeting ran anti-clockwise. Is there a different reason for this?

If they ran the other way they would bash into everybody coming towards them. Seriously . It's the way the water runs down the plug hole, unless you live in Australia. Bit of a sensless question this. Better to ask is there any type of race on a track where the contestances race clockwise. I can't think of one, Cycling Indianapolis or anywhere. I've never thought about or realized before that even on a Natural Turn which is clockwise we still still progress anti clock.

Hi Don,
/*Bit of a senseless question this.*/

I wrote this question because in the flat races over 100 metres the runners travel anti-clockwise around the track. They don't and never have ran with a sword scabbard on their left hip. So is there another reason why we dance moving in an anti-clockwise direction around the ballroom?

I think the reasons go back further than natural/right turning waltzes.

In the days of the English and French courts when physical contact between partners was limited to the hands, gentlemen would have their ladies on their right side, away from the sword. Much of the dancing involved promenading the ladies around the room presenting and displaying their finery to the assembled audience. Hence the ladies were on the outside of the room and the procession moved anti-clockwise.

When the scandalous, outrageous close hold of the waltz became more acceptable, the ladies were held in the gentlemen's right arm again avoiding the scabbard etc. This offset hold and the existing practice of anticlockwise travel made the right turn the natural choice.

As for oval race tracks, could this go back to ancient Roman chariot races, whip in the right hand, reins in the left resulting in a tendency to curve to the left?

For motor races there are certainly some clockwise tracks including Brands Hatch in England.